Apparatus to support the electrodes and bus bars in an electrolytic cell

ABSTRACT

ELECTROLYTIC CELL APPARTUS COMPRISING AS AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE A CAPPING BOARD FORMED OF A PLURALITY OF INTERLOCKING, E.G., PLASTIC MOLDED, UNITS FORMING A STRUCTURE DESIGNED TO BE SUPPORTED ON THE WALLS OF ELECTROYLTIC TANKS, AND TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF ANODES, CATHODES AND BUS BARS IN OPERABLE RELATION, EACH F SUCH UNITS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION WITH A SEAT AND EXTENDING DOVETAIL MEMBERS WHICH INTERLOCK ADACENT UNITS. ANODES AND CATHODE HANGER BARS REST AT ONE END ON THE SEATS OF THE CAP-   PING BOARD AND ARE SUPPORTED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS ON A BUS BAR BETWEEN ALIGNED INTERLOCKING UNITS OF THE CAPPING BOARD.

Ocf. I972 p M PAIGE 3,697,404

APPARATUS TO SUPPCHI THE ELECTRODES AND BUS BARS IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELLFiled Jan. 29, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m VEN TOR. P rse M. Po 5 BY J Oct.10, 1972 P. M. PAIGE 3,697,404 APPARATUS TO SUPPORT THE ELECTRODES ANDBUS BARS IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Jan. 29, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TI I I 4sb A 24 4 44 4s I PETEE M.P.0/

I N VEN TOR.

Oct. 10, 1972 P. M. PAIGE 3,697,404 APPARATUS TO SUPPORT THE ELECTRODESAND BUS BARS IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Jan. 29, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet3 0 T w v g m w a N v w w 1 19 Q LO Hr w 3 3m 10 j 00 V d I a Q N o m mg- N INVENTOR.

United States Patent Oflice Patented Oct. 10, 1972 3,697,404 APPARATUSTO SUPPORT THE ELECTRODES AND BUS BARS IN AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL Peter M.Paige, 1200 N. Flores, Los Angeles, Calif. 90069 Filed Jan. 29, 1971,Ser. No. 110,943 Int. Cl. C23b 5/70 US. Cl. 204-267 14 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE Electrolytic cell apparatus comprising as an essentialfeature a capping board formed of a plurality of interlocking, e.g.,plastic molded, units forming a structure designed to be supported onthe walls of electrolytic tanks, and to support a series of anodes,cathodes and bus bars in operable relation, each of such units includinga body portion with a seat and extending dovetail members whichinterlock adjacent units. Anode and cathode hanger bars rest at one endon the seats of the capping board and are supported at their oppositeends on a bus bar between aligned interlocking units of the cappingboard.

This invention relates to electrolytic cell apparatus, and isparticularly concerned with novel simplified structure for mounting andsuitably positioning the anode and cathode hanger bars, whichrespectively support the anodes and cathodes in the electrolytic cells,and the anode and cathode bus bars for contact with the respective anodeand cathode hanger members, to complete the circuit in the electrolyticcells, and to electrolytic cell apparatus comprising a plurality ofcells or tanks, and including said novel structure mounted on the wallsof the respective cells.

In electrolytic cells, e.g., of the type used in copper electrowinning,a large number of cells is generally employed, each cell containing arelatively large number of anodes and cathodes supported in theelectrolytic cells by anode and cathode hanger members or bars, a sourceof electrical energy being supplied to the anodes and cathodes in seriesthrough the entire electrolytic cell apparatus.

Electrolytic cell apparatus of this type generally requires meansmounted on the relatively long opposite walls of the respectiveelectrolytic cells for properly supporting and positioning therespective anode and cathode hanger bars so as to accurately space theanodes and cathodes in the respective cells, and to maintain the anodehanger bars and the cathode hanger bars in contact with their respectiveanode and cathode b-us bars, while at the same time maintaining saidanode and cathode hanger bars insulated from each other. Heretofore, alarge number of individual supporting members for each of the anode andcathode hanger bars, together with relatively complex means formaintaining the anode hanger bars and cathode hanger bars in contactwith their respective bus bars, have been utilized. This has resulted inhigh initial costs for equipment of this type in electrolytic cells,together with the relatively high cost of maintenance of this relativelycomplex equipment.

US. Pat. 2,443,112 illustrates one form of prior art apparatus of thetype described above for use in electrolytic cells. In this patent,there is provided cone or mushroom shaped metal protrusions on one endof each hanger bar, which wedge together to provide electricalcontinuity. A plurality of slotted electrical insulating electrodespacer members or strips serve to support the other end of the hangerbars so as to space the electrodes in the tanks. The structure of thispatent, particularly the cone-shaped contact means thereof, is complex,employing a plurality of insulating strips for supporting the hangerbars, which must be fitted together or attached in some manner. Further,the device of the patent requires removal of all cathodes before removalof the anodes.

The device of the present invention on the other hand, employsinterlocking insulating support members for the hanger bars, insulatingthe anode and cathode hanger bars and positively locating the anode andcathode hanger bars not only lengthwise in the electrolytic cells ortanks, but also transversely across the tank, and provides means forpositioning anode and cathode bus bars in a simplified manner in properposition so that only the anode and cathode hanger bars contact therespective anode and cathode bus bars, and avoiding the complication ofthe use of the cone-shaped contact members of the above patent.

According to the invention, a device termed herein a capping board isprovided for use in electrolytic cells, avoiding the disadvantages ofprior art apparatus such as that disclosed in the above patent, suchcapping board being designed to be mounted in fixed position on thewalls of electrolytic tanks for efficiently supporting, spacing andinsulating the conductive anode and cathode hanger members, and therespective anodes and cathodes in the cells, and for suitably supportingthe bus bars for the anode and cathode hanger members. Such cappingboard is composed basically of a plurality of interlocking like unitswhich dovetail together, each individual unit, preferably molded fromplastic, including a body portion with a seat and extending dovetailmembers which interlock with adjacent units. Each of the capping boardspreferably is designed with two rows of such interlocking units, theanode and cathode hanger bars resting in the seat portion of such units,and the bus bars being supported each in the space provided on thecapping board between the two rows of aligned units.

The seats of the respective units on each capping board, mounted onopposite walls of each of the electrolytic cells, receive and supportone end of each of the respective anode and cathode hanger bars, theother ends of said hanger bars being in contact with and being supportedby their respective anode and cathode bus bars.

As will be clearly seen from the description of the preferred embodimentof the invention described below, the capping board structure of theinvention accurately spaces the anode and cathode hanger bars and theirrespective anodes and cathodes in the electrolytic cells, and insulatesthem from each other, and serves to compel contact of the anode hangerbars and cathode hanger bars, with their respective anode and cathodebus bars, while preventing the anode hanger bars from contacting thecathode bus bars, and preventing the cathode hanger bars from contactingthe anode bus bars.

By designing the capping board employing the above noted interlockingunits for supporting the hanger bars and a bus bar in positive fixedrelation to obtain the results noted above, there is provided asimplified support structure for the hanger bars in the electrolyticcells, and for the bus bars thereof, while permitting utilization of thesimple type of knife bus bars, thereby substantially reducing not onlythe initial cost of such equipment in electrolytic cells, but the costof maintaining such equipment.

The invention will be understood more clearly from the description belowof a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the electrolytic cell apparatusaccording to the invention, employed for supporting the anode andcathode hanger bars and their respective anodes and cathodes in aplurality of elec trolytic cells, and for placing said hanger bars incontact with their respective bus bars to provide electrical continuitythroughout all of the cells in series;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another longitudinal section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the interlocking units of the cappingboard structure of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the interlocking unit of FIG. 4, showingthe mounting of said unit on the wall of an electrolytic cell;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the unit of FIG. 4, showing the seatformed in the body portion of the unit for receiving the ends of theanode and cathode hanger bars; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a plurality of said interlocking units inassembled position, showing the formation of a pair of aligned rows ofsuch units of which the capping board is comprised, with an intermediatelongitudinal space provided by the interlocking members between thealigned rows, for securely supporting and locating a bus bar betweensaid aligned rows.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing, numerals 10 and 12 are cappingboards according to the invention mounted on the opposite walls 14 and16 of an electrolytic cell, indicated at 18, there being a plurality oflike electrolytic cells such as adjacent cells indicated at 20 and 22 inthe illustrated electrolytic cell system.

Each of the capping boards 10 and 12 are of the same construction, eachof such capping boards comprising a plurality of interlocking units 24aligned in one row along one side of the capping board and a pluralityof identical interlocking units 24' aligned parallel to the first row ofunits 24, along the opposite side of the capping board. As will bedescribed more fully below, the units 24 and 24 of the capping board,are designed to support one end of a plurality of alternately spacedparallel conductive metal anode hanger bars 26 and conductive metalcathode hanger bars 28 in the respective electrolytic cells such as 18,the opposite ends of such anode and cathode hanger bars being supportedon anode and cathode bus bars 30 and 32 which rest on the capping boards10 and 12, respectively, as described more fully below.

The anode hanger bars 26 serve to support the respective anodes 34 inthe electrolyte 35 of the electrolytic cells such as 18, and the cathodehanger bars 28 are connected by means of metal straps 36 to cathodes 38suspended in the electrolyte 35, the respective anodes and cathodes andthe respective anode hanger bars and cathode hanger bars being suitablyspaced and insulated from each other, by means of the capping boards 10and 12, as described in greater detail hereinafter.

In the present embodiment, the capping board structure of the inventionis employed in a plurality of electrolytic cells utilized forelectrowinning copper, the anodes 34 being lead anodes, and the cathodes38 being copper cathodes, and the electrolyte 35 being a copper sulfatesolution. In the electrolytic process, copper is deposited from thecopper sulfate solution on thin copper cathodes, the thickened coppercathodes being removed at intervals and replaced by fresh thin coppercathodes.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawing, each of theunits 24 of the capping boards 10 and 12 is formed of a molded bodyportion 40 having outwardly extending dovetail members 42 and 44, member44 having a groove 46 and member 42 being in the form of a tongue, eachof said body portions 40 also carrying a Z-shaped side member 48,members 42, 44 and 48 all integrally attached to the body portion 40. Inthe top of the body portion 40 is provided a seat 50 formed of sides 52and an end member 54. As previously noted, and also pointed out ingreater detail hereinafter, one end of either an anode hanger bar 26 orof a cathode hanger bar 28 is received in the seats 50 of the cappingboard units 24 for support thereof, as illustrated by the dotted line inFIG. 4. It will be noted that there is also integrally provided on thebody portion 40 of each of the units 24 a depending flange 56 which isadapted to make contact with one side 58 of a Side wall 14 or 16 of anelectrolytic cell.

The units 24 including the interlocking members 42, 44 and 48 carriedthereon can be readily molded from a suitable plastic, e.g., injectionmolded from polypropylene or any other suitable plastic such aspolystyrene, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate-butyrate, and thelike. Although plastic molded units are preferred due to their ease offabrication and low cost, such units can be formed of any insulating,preferably moldable material, including molded ceramics as well asmolded plastics.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 7, and also again to FIG. 1, there isshown the interlocking or dovetailing of the units 24, and an identicalseries of units 24' to form the capping board structure 10 or 12according to the invention. The structural components of units 24' arerepresented in the drawing by primed numbers corresponding to thenumbers of the same components of units 24. It is seen that a unit 24 isinterlocked with a pair of adjacent interlocking units 24 by means ofthe tongue and groove elements 42 and 44, to form an aligned row of theunits 24 On the capping board 10, with a space 45 provided between theadjacent body portions 40 of such units, to receive and locate an endportion of an anode or cathode hanger bar 26 or 28, as seen in FIG. 1,while a like aligned interlocking parallel, spaced series of units 24'identical to units 24- is formed, the units 24 of the first alignedseries of units being dovetailed and interlocked with the second seriesof aligned units 24' through the tongue and groove arrangement 48a and48b of the side member 48, of each of the units 24 with a like tongueand groove arrangement 48a and 48'b on side members 48' formed on theunits 24' of like construction as the units 24. It will be seen thatthis arrangement of the units 24 in one row and the units 24' in theadjacent row of the capping board, places the units 24' in a directionopposite units 24, and also staggers the units 24 with respect to theunits 24, and also providing seats 50' and intermediate spaces 45' forproper location of the anode hanger bars 26 and the cathode hanger bars28, so that they contact the anode and cathode bus bars, respectively,in each electrolytic cell, e.g., 18, as seen in FIG. 1 and describedmore fully below. Since the units 24 and 24' are identical it will beunderstood that units 24 and 24' are interchangeable and can be used ineither of the aligned rows of units 24 or 24', constituting a feature ofthis construction.

It will thus be seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 that the seats 50 of the alignedrow of plastic molded units 24 are disposed in a direction opposite tothe staggered seats 50 of the aligned row of units 24', the end members54 of the seats in the first row of units 24 being disposed adjacent theend members 54 of the second row of aligned units 24' for a purposedescribed more fully below.

The dovetailing or interlocking of the two rows of aligned molded units24 and 24 to form the capping board 10, provides a space 60 (see FIG. 7)between the adjacent walls 61 and 61 of the two rows of units 24 and24', which securely receives and locates the bus bar, which can be ofconventional triangular shape, and composed, e.g., of copper, such asanode bus bar 30 or cathode bus bar 32, between the two rows of units 24and 24, such bus bar resting on the seat formed by the interlocked sidemembers 48 and 48 of the units 24 and 24'. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, oneof the capping boards 10 resting on the wall 14 of the electrolytic cell18 carties the anode bus bar 30, and the other capping board 12 mountedon the wall 16 of the cell carries the cathode bus bar 32, in each casedisposed between the two parallel aligned rows of molded units 24 and 24of the capping board.

As clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the capping boards and 12 issecurely positioned on their respective side walls 14 and 16 of theelectrolytic cell by contact of the depending flanges 56 of each of thealigned units 24 with one side of a cell wall, e.g., 14, and by contactof the similarly provided depending flanges 56 of the aligned row ofunits 24' with the opposite side of the tank wall, e.g., 14.

Again referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will be seenthat the ends of the anode hanger bars 26 and the ends of the cathodehanger bars 28 are supported in the seats 50 and 50' of the respectiveunits 24 and 24' of the capping boards mounted on the walls of each ofthe adjacent electrolytic cells 18, and 22, with the opposite ends ofthe anode hanger bars 26 being in contact only with the anode bus bars,e.g., anode bus bar 30 along one side wall of the cell 18, and theopposite ends of the cathode hanger bars 28 being onl in contact withthe cathode bus bars, e.g., cathode bus bar 32, along the opposite sidewall of the cell 18. It will thus be seen that in each cell, andreferring particularly to cell 18, one end of each anode hanger bar 26is supported in a seat 50 of one of the capping board units 24, theother end of each of the anode hanger bars being supported on the knifeedge of the anode bus bar 30, while one end of each of the cathodehanger bars 28, is similarly supported in one of the seats 50 of units24', while the opposite end of each of the cathode hanger bars issupported on the knife edge of the cathode bus bar 32.

A similar arrangement of the anode and cathode hanger bars and anode andcathode bus bars is provided in each of the other cells of the system,e.g., cells 20 and 22, except that in each adjacent cell the anode busbar, e.g., 30 of cell 18, is the cathode bus bar of the adjacent cell20, and the cathode bus bar, e.g., 32 of cell 18, is the anode bus barof the other adjacent cell such as 22.

It is also noted that the anode hanger bars 26 of all of the cells,e.g., 18, 20 and 22, are in longitudinal alignment with each other, andthe cathode hanger bars 28 of all of the cells are in longitudinalalignment with each other.

In this arrangement it is seen that the capping boards 10 and 12 of theinvention, with their aligned rows of units M and 24' arranged instaggered relation, each locates the ends of the anode hanger bars 26 ofone electrolytic cell 18, and the adjacent aligned ends of the anodehanger bars of the adjacent cells, e.g., 20 and 22, so as to preventcontact of the respective ends of these hanger bars with each other, bymeans of the insulating end member 54 of the units 24, and to compelcontact of the opposite ends of such anode hanger bars with the anodebus bar, e.g., 30, and similarly such capping board arrangement locatesthe adjacent aligned ends of the cathode hanger bars 28 of the adjacentcells 18, 20 and 22, by means of the end members 54' of the units 24, soas to prevent contact of the respective ends of these hanger bars witheach other, and to compel contact of the opposite ends of the cathodehanger bars 28, with the cathode bus bar, e.g., 32. Such insulation ofthe adjacent ends of the aligned anode hanger bars of the adjacentcells, and insulation of the aligned cathode hanger bars of the adjacentcells, prevents shorting out of the cells.

The aligned rows of spaced units 24 and spaced units 24 on the cappingboard also serves to insulate the adjacent ends of the alternate cathodeand anode hanger bars of each of the cells, whereby suflicient space at45 (see FIG. 7) is provided between each of the adjacent units 24 in onealigned row of such units, and sutficient space 45' is provided betweeneach of the adjacent units 24 of the other row of such aligned units topermit passage of the end portion of either a cathode hanger bar 28, orof an anode hanger bar 26 between the units 24 or 6 between the units24, for contact with their respective cathode and anode bus bars in eachcell, while insulating such hanger bars from the adjacent anode hangerbars, or from the adjacent cathode hanger bars, in the same cell.

It is accordingly seen that the capping board structure of theinvention, mounted on adjacent walls of the individual electrolyticcells of an electrolytic cell unit comprised of a plurality of suchindividual cells, accurately spaces the cathodes and anodes in the samecell, locates the cathode and anode hanger bars of one cell and theanode and cathode bars of adjacent cells to compel their contact withtheir respective anode and cathode bus bars in each cell, locates theanode and cathode hanger bars of one cell and the cathode and anodehanger bars of adjacent cells to prevent contact with the bus bar ofopposite polarity, and to insulate them from it, and insulates the anodeand cathode hanger bars of one cell from each other and also insulatesthe anode and cathode hanger bars in adjacent cells from each other.

As a result of the functioning of the capping board structure toaccomplish the above purposes, electric current flow from a singlesource of current, e.g., a DC. rectifier, is efficiently provided asindicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, by maintaining a suitable voltagedrop, e.g., of about 2 volts between the respective adjacent cells insuccession, e.g., between cells 20, 18 and 22, and by providing asuitable voltage drop across each individual cell, e.g., a voltage dropof about 2 volts across the anode and cathode hanger bars of cell 18, toprovide efficient electrolytic flow through the cell electrolyte, andfrom one cell to an adjacent cell. Thus, current from the cathode hangerbars 28 of cell 20 flows to knife bus 30, the cathode bus bar of cell20, which is also the anode bus bar 30 of cell 18, to the anode hangerbars 26 of cell 18, the anodes 34 of cell 18, through the electrolyte 35in cell 18 to the cathodes 38 of cell 18, to the cathode hanger bars 28of cell 18, to the cathode bus bar 32 of cell 18, which is also theanode bus bar of cell 22, to the anode hanger bars 26 of the nextadjacent cell 22, and so on, through each successive electrolyte cell ofthe system in series.

While in the preferred embodiment described above, the aligned units 24are identical to the aligned units 24', units 24 can be of aconstruction different from units 24, provided that such units embodythe above described interlocking or dovetailing features and the otherstructural features described above with respect to units 24 and 24'.

Although the capping board structure of the invention has been describedwith respect to its use in a copper electrowinning electrolytic cellsystem, it will be understood that the capping board structure hereofcan be employed to similar advantage in any type of electrolytic orelectrowinning cell system.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the invention provides novel andsimplified means for suitably supporting anodes and cathodes inelectrolytic cells, and for suitably insulating anode and cathode hangerbars from each other and to provide efficient contact of such anode andcathode hanger bars with their respective anode and cathode bus bars.Further, the capping board structure of the invention positively locatesthe respective hanger bars not only lengthwise of the electrolytic cellsbut also transversely across the cells, and permits facile removal ofanodes and cathodes in any order from the cells or tanks.

.It will be understood that various modifications and adaptations of theinvention can be made within the spirit of the invention, and hence theinvention is not to be taken as limited except by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Electrolytic cell apparatus comprising a plurality of electrolyticcells each containing alternating anodes and cathodes, cathode and anodeconductive hanger members connected to and supporting said anodes andcathodes, respectively, in said cells, a capping board structure mountedon each of the opposite walls of each of said electrolytic cells forsupporting said anode and cathode hanger members and said anodes andcathodes in predetermined spaced relation, with said anodes and cathodesinsulated from each other, said capping board comprising a plurality ofindividual spaced apart units, each said unit including a body portionhaving a seat and extending dovetail members which interlock withadjacent said units, one end of said anode and cathode hanger membersresting in the seats of said body portion, anode and cathode bus barssupported on respective said capping board structures mounted onopposite sides of the respective electrolytic cells, the opposite endsof said anode and cathode hanger members resting on said anode andcathode bus bars, respectively.

2. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 1, said units of saidcapping board being plastic molded units and of like construction, andarranged to form a pair of aligned spaced substantially parallel rows ofsaid units along the top of each of said walls of said electrolyticcells, the body portions of each of said units in said respective rowsbeing spaced apart, said body portions and the seats in the bodyportions of one of said rows being staggered with respect to said bodyportions and the seats in the body portions of the other row of saidunits, the seats of said one row being disposed in a direction oppositefrom the seats of the other row, said anode and cathode bus bars eachbeing supported and securely located between said aligned rows of saidunits on said respective capping boards.

3. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 2, said seat of eachof said units being formed in the upper end of the body portion of eachof said units, said seat having sides and an end member, the end membersof said seats of said respective aligned rows of said units of each saidcapping board being disposed adjacent each other, one end of therespective anode hanger members in each of said electrolytic cells beingdisposed in the seats of one of said parallel rows of units of one ofsaid capping boards mounted on one Wall of said cell, the opposite endportions of said anode hanger members being positioned between adjacentbody portions of one of said parallel rows of units of said othercapping board mounted on the other wall of said cell, and resting onsaid anode bus bar of said other capping board, one end of therespective cathode hanger members in said electrolytic cell beingdisposed in the seats of one of said parallel rows of units of saidother capping board, the opposite end portions of said cathode hangermembers being positioned between adjacent body portions of one of saidparallel rows of units of said one capping board, and resting on saidcathode bus bar of said one capping board, the respective anode hangermembers of said cells being in longitudinal alignment, and therespective cathode hanger members of said cells being in longitudinalalignment, the aligned anodes of said cells and the aligned cathodes ofsaid cells being insulated from each other by the end members of saidseats receiving the ends of said anode hanger members and the ends ofsaid cathode hanger members.

4. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 3, one end of therespective cathode hanger members in one adjacent electrolytic cellbeing disposed in the seats of the other parallel row of said units ofsaid one capping board mounted on said one wall of said first mentionedelectrolytic cell, and one end of the respective anode hanger members inthe other adjacent electrolytic cell being disposed in the seats of theother parallel row of said units of said other capping board mounted onsaid other wall of said electrolytic cell.

5. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 3, including meansmounting each of said capping boards in fixed position on a wall of saidelectrolytic cells.

6. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 3, said interlockingdovetail members of said units of said capping board comprising a pairof outwardly extending tongue and groove end members and a tongue andgroove side member, said tongue and groove end members of each of saidunits interlocking with the groove and tongue end members of like saidunits and forming one of said aligned rows of said units on said cappingboard, and the like second aligned row of said units being interlockedwith said first row of said units by said tongue and groove side membersof the respective adjacent units of said two aligned rows of said units,the respective units of said one aligned row being staggered withrespect to the adjacent units of said second aligned row, one of saidanode and cathode bus bars being supported on said interlocked sidemembers of said units between said two aligned rows of said units.

7. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 6, said units eachcontaining a depending integral flange member, said flange members ofsaid units of said one of said aligned rows of units of said cappingboard being disposed in contact with one side of a wall of saidelectrolytic cell supporting said capping board, said fiange members ofsaid units of said second aligned row of said units being disposed incontact with the opposite side of said cell wall and maintaining saidcapping board in fixed position on said Wall.

8. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim I, said interlockingdovetail members of said units of said capping board comprising a pairof outwardly extending tongue and groove end members and a tongue andgroove side member, said tongue and groove end members of each of saidunits interlocking with the groove and tongue end members of like saidunits and forming one aligned row of said units on said capping board,and a like second aligned row of said units, said second row of unitsbeing interlocked with said first row of said units by said tongue andgroove side members of the respective adjacent units of said two alignedrows of said units, the respective units of one said aligned row beingstaggered with respect to the adjacent units of said second aligned row,one of said anode and cathode bus bars being supported on saidinterlocked side members of said units between said two aligned rows ofsaid units.

9. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 8, said units eachcontaining a depending integral flange member, said flange members ofsaid units of said one of said aligned rows of units of said cappingboard being disposed in contact with one side of a wall of anelectrolytic cell supporting said capping board, said flange members ofsaid units of said second aligned row of said units being disposed incontact with the opposite side of said cell wall and maintaining saidcapping board in fixed position on said wall.

10. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 1, including meansfor mounting said capping board in fixed position on a wall of one ofsaid electrolytic cells.

11. Electrolytic cell apparatus comprising a capping board structureadapted to be mounted on the opposite walls of a plurality ofelectrolytic cells for supporting the anode and cathode hanger membersand the anodes and cathodes in predetermined spaced relation, with saidanodes and cathodes insulated from each other, said capping boardcomprising a plurality of individual spaced apart units, each said unitincluding a body portion having a seat and extending dovetail memberswhich interlock with adjacent said units, said units of said cappingboard being arranged to form a pair of aligned spaced substantiallyparallel rows of said units, the body portions of each of said units insaid respective rows being spaced apart, said body portions and theseats in the body portions of one of said rows being staggered withrespect to said body portions and the seats in the body portions of theother row of said units, the seats of said one row being disposed in adirection opposite from the seats of the other row.

12. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 11, such units ofsaid capping board being plastic molded units and of like construction,said seat of each of said units being formed in the upper end of thebody portion of each of said units, said seat having sides and an endmember, the end members of said seats of said respective aligned rows ofsaid units of each said capping boards being disposed adjacent eachother.

13. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 12, saidinterlocking dovetail members of said units of said capping boardcomprising a pair of outwardly extending tongue and groove end membersand a tongue and groove side member, said tongue and groove end membersof each of said units interlocking with the groove and tongue endmembers of like said units and forming one of said aligned rows of saidunits on said capping board, and the like second aligned row of saidunits being interlocked with said first row of said units by said tongueand groove side members of the respective adjacent units of said twoaligned rows of said units, the respective units of said one aligned rowbeing staggered with respect to the adjacent units of said secondaligned row, said units each containing a depending integral flangemember for contact with one side of a wall of an electrolytic cell tosupport said capping board.

14. Electrolytic cell apparatus as defined in claim 11, saidinterlocking dovetail members of said units of said capping boardcomprising a pair of outwardly extending tongue and groove end membersand a tongue and groove side member, said tongue and groove end membersof each of said units interlocking with the groove and tongue endmembers of like said units and forming one aligned row of said units onsaid capping, board, and a like second aligned row of said units, saidsecond row of units being interlocked with said first row of said unitsby said tongue and groove side members of the respective adjacent unitsof said two aligned rows of said units, the respective units of one saidaligned row being staggered with respect to the adjacent units of saidsecond aligned row.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,004 4/1938 Bitner 204-267HOWARD S. WILLIAMS, Primary Examiner W. I. SOLOMON, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

